Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers: Volume Two

Every purchase you make through these Amazon links supports DVD Verdict's reviewing efforts. Thank you!

All Rise...

Judge William Lee has the plans for mankind's first hyperdrive. It must be under one of these stacks of DVDs or comic books.

The Charge

"Rangers are forever." —The Adventures of the
Galaxy Rangers end credits song.

Opening Statement

The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers premiered on U.S. television in
1986 and then quickly got lost in the wasteland of toy line tie-in animated
shows that dominated the era's after-school timeslots. The cult-favorite series
resurfaced initially on four separate DVD compilations, each set featuring four
episodes out of continuity and broadcast order. Koch Vision finally rewards
patient fans with Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers—The Collection:
Volume 2 which completes the series' 65-episode run in its original
chronological order.

Facts of the Case

In 2086, Earth joined a military alliance with alien races against the Crown
Empire that was quickly spreading through the universe and enslaving its
inhabitants. In exchange for our help, mankind learned the technology of the
hyperdrive and the colonization of distant worlds began. In this new lawless
frontier, the Galaxy Rangers emerged to maintain law and order. A select group
of Rangers received Series 5 cybernetic implants that give them individual,
special powers. Zachary Foxx (Jerry Orbach, Beauty and the Beast) leads the
group that includes Shane "Goose" Gooseman, Niko and "Doc"
Hartford. In addition to the Queen of the Crown, the Rangers also contend with
villains such as Scarecrow, the Black Hole Gang, Killbane and giant
marshmallows.

The final 33 episodes of the series are spread across four discs numbered
continuously after the Volume 1 set:

The Evidence

The series' production was based in New York but the animation was farmed out
to TMS Entertainment, Ltd. (one of the oldest and most prominent animation
studios in Japan). Imported anime hadn't yet gained popular acceptance with
American audiences so The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers had a very
unique look for its time. The show also benefited from a mixed roster of
talented novice and established science fiction writers. Not having to answer to
a toy company, the writers let their imaginations dictate the direction of the
show and a lot of creativity fills the corners of this universe. Galaxy
Rangers also has a more mature tone than similar shows aimed at young
viewers: space cruisers are blown up, planets threatened with extinction and
background characters are disintegrated on screen.

The four Rangers receive roughly equal screen time over the course of the
series, but Shane Gooseman (Doug Preis, Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law)
often comes close to stealing the show. The Goose is a Western hero in the Clint
Eastwood mould: short on words but quick on the draw. More than a few episodes
are devoted to his history and how his past continues to haunt him.

I was a little impatient during a few of the early episodes in this set that
spotlighted the Kiwi kids. They're meant to be lighter episodes, giving
audiences a break from the action-packed sci-fi storylines, and younger viewers
might identify more easily with the adolescent aliens. Even when I was at that
age myself, I didn't care much for those supporting characters that were
inserted into a show solely for the cuteness factor. Some viewers might enjoy
the silly antics of these big-eyed aliens but I was looking forward to a few
fists and lasers to fly. That's not to say the Rangers are necessary for every
memorable episode. In two episodes about a boy and his flying horse, a youngster
named Billy carries the story quite well. That just goes to show how strong
writing and direction is more compelling than gimmicky characters.

There are enough supplemental materials in this collection to satisfy
diehard fans of the show. Creator Robert Mandell talks about the experience of
selling the show in an oversaturated animation marketplace. Mandell also joins
story editor Christopher Rowley and voice talent Henry Mandell on audio
commentaries for four episodes. In an 18-minute interview, then-novice writers
Dan Fiorella and John Rawlins share their memories of working on the show and
talk about their finished scripts for the second season that was not to be. In
the first of two "Show and Tell" segments, crew members share their
memories of actor Jerry Orbach. Then, Fiorella and Rawlins exhibit some kids
meal merchandise that tied the show in with a restaurant chain. A separate
feature allows you to listen to ten original underscore music tracks used
throughout the series. The character art slideshow is a gallery of the concept
art by Justin Norman. Outside of the discs, this collection is also packaged
with a "Visual Guide to Vehicles and Technology" booklet that mixes
episode stills and production drawings with brief explanations of the machines
in the Galaxy Rangers universe.

Koch Vision has done a nice job presenting the second half of the series on
this DVD set. The picture is clean, exhibiting only the faintest signs of dust
and damage, and the colors are rich and strong. I just barely remember seeing
the series when it was first on television, but I can't imagine it looked any
better than it does on these discs. The show's soundtrack is adequately
delivered in a stereo mix. However, the audio for the episodes sounds more like
a strong mono compared against that of the Underscore Music Tracks supplement or
even against the menu screens. The rockin' electric guitar and synthesizers are
like a time machine to the 1980s.

The Rebuttal Witnesses

Animated television series of the 1980s were treated as disposable toy
commercials and it was expected that the episodes would be broadcast out of
chronological order. The writers of Galaxy Rangers must have anticipated
this as almost all the episodes work just fine as stand-alone episodes. Without
exception, the status quo is restored by the end of each story. While it is nice
to have the entire series presented in order across this two-volume collection,
the story continuity doesn't necessitate viewing the episodes strictly in order.
Consequently, there isn't a grand story arc that shapes the direction of the
series. For example, the threat of the Crown Empire never builds to a showdown.
A few other storylines develop a theme that is explored in consecutive episodes
or revisited over a few separate ones. But our perception of the characters or
their universe isn't dynamically altered between the start of the series and the
final episode. Ultimately, the lack of a cumulative continuity does make
individual episodes feel somewhat disposable.

Closing Statement

The Galaxy Rangers ride again and fans of the show will appreciate the
completion of the series on this DVD collection. A very good-looking picture and
a fistful of extras will satiate nostalgic cravings for 1980s cartoons. This one
is strictly for the fans with fond memories, though. While it is a cut above the
average for its time, it will be a tall order convincing new viewers that this
is a lost gem from an era of forgettable kids shows.

The Verdict

Not guilty.

Give us your feedback!

Did we give Adventures Of The Galaxy Rangers: Volume Two a fair trial? yes / no

What's "fair"? Whether positive or negative, our reviews should be unbiased, informative, and critique the material on its own merits.